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.G14 
Copy 1 



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011897 176 tt 



Conservation Resources 
LIg-Fiei® Type 1 



CIRCULAR 



OF 



MAJOR JOHN P. GAINES, OF KENTUCKY, 

n TO HIS COIVSTITtJEI^^TS 



OF THE 



TENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. 



Friends and Fellow-Citizens : Having been elected (o the honor- 
able station of Representaiive to Congress, by yom" vohiiitfuv Uijd uo'^oli- 
cited suffiages, whilst a prisoner in Mexico — for which evidence of confi- 
dence and friendship I avail myself of this opporninity to puiiliclv thank 
you — I take the liberty of trespassing on your patience in a miiier person- 
al to myself, but in which I desiie to be placed in the right position before 
you, lest inferences, prejudicial to my honor, might be drawn in relaii )n lo 
my escape from thence. 

In a letter of Capt. C. M. Clay's, pnhlished in the Louisville Courier, of 
Jidy Sth, in vindication of himself from certain charges of S'>me nf the 
Encarnacion prisoners, my name has incidentally been brought JMto the 
discussion, which has induced me lo appear jjefore you now, ini<ie.id of ai 
so'ue future time, (as I had intended.) when at more leisure, I could have 
addressed you personally in relation to all the incidents connected wiih ihe 
campaign. 

Believmg that no goofl can accrue from the indulgence of acrim >n'ous 
crimination and recrimination, I shall scrupulously absfaiu from any impu- 
tation whatever in relation to others. Neither do I intend to be drawn 
into the discussion between these gentleujen, directly or indirectly, but 
simply submit a succinct account of my own actions and mo;ives, tiusting- 
they will meet your cordial approval. 

Some time after our arrival as prisoners of war in the city of Mevico, 
we received the official reports of Generals 'I'aylorand Sania Anna, in re- 
lation to the battle of Buena Vista, in which our release or exchange was 
proposed and acceded to by Santa Amia, in these words: " In answer lo 
the courtesy the enemy's General had shown with respect lo our woirn*!- 
ed, I consented^ ill the name of the nation^ to release all the prisoners 
we had — those taken both in the bnlile, and at Encarnacion.^'' We, 
therefore, anxiously expected the order for our releassj; but after waiting- 
Towers, printer, opposite National lntelUgenc«r. 



Sdrricieiidy long in the vain hope thai Gen. Sanfa Anna would do that 
which lie never before l:ud done, keep his ])lighited faith, I demanded an 
audience, and coniiniied to do so for weeks and months, but coukl not 
o!)iai!i one, being denied an introduction, but was told "I might go wiih- 
ou!,'' which 1 declined, as the honor of my country, as well as my own^ 
f()il)id my going as a mendicant, to beg that which was perfidiously with- 
lield, even the precious boon of liberty. I therefore resigned myself to the 
disappointment, trusting that the day of our deliverance was not very dis- 
tant, for already the anxious countenances and active preparations for de- 
fence but tco plainly indicated t!)at the echo of the thunder and liie flash 
of the artillery of that band of heroes under General Scott, would soon 
reach the capital ; and, determined to await the result of circumstances, 
relying on my own resources to eflect my release, provided the opportuni- 
ty should occur in the meantime — for between perpetual imprisonment and 
death there was no choice, and unless released, either by the vicloiious 
arms of General Scott, or my mvti, perpetual imprisonment appeared inevi- 
table. Whilst in this state of suspense and imceitainty, as to the future, 
and from the ignominious perfidy, dishonor, and utter disregard of all civ- 
ilized courtesy, not knowing but the next inoment might consign mo to 
the mines^ or, \vhn{ was worse, one of their beastly prisons, if the fiend 
who commanded should, with his characteristic infamy, conceive it, I was 
tmexpecily called upon to report myself before Gen. Lombardini, on the 
Jst August, 1847. Accordingly, I obeyed the order, accompanied by an 
English gentleman, of high character, and conversant with the Spanish 
language, as interpreter and witness, through whom I communicated, al- 
though Col. Almonte, the Mexican interpreter, was present on the part of 
ihe Government, and was himself a perfect English scholar. When there, 
I vv^as told to be ready to start for Toluca the next morning, against which 
order 1 remonstrated, and demanded our release, and denied their tight to 
retain us, having been exchanged, as I proved by producing the reports of 
Gbuerals Taylor and Sania Anna to their respective Governments; to 
which demand Gen. Lombardini, with the accustomed Mexican duplicity 
and bad faith, replied, that ^^ ihe exchange was informal.'''' I then imme- 
diately resolved to resign or withdraw my parole, and rely on myself lor 
liberation, which I did, stating that " I withdrew my parole," as will be 
seen by the unanimous testimony of all present. And I furthermore stated 
that " 1 would not go to Toluca, unless forcibly taken there," firmly re- 
solved to risk my life rather than submit myself any longer to their faith- 
less promises. Not being able to obtain any satisfaction from Lombardini, 
I again demanded to see Santa Anna, and was referred to the Secretary of 
War, on whom we called, and of whom I again demanded our release, 
perfidiously withheld, and to whom 1 repeated what I had previously sta- 
ted to Gen. Lombardini, that "I withdrew my parole, and would not go 
to Toluca unless forcibly taken there." 

We were then paid off, I, with others, receiving mine, which I was en- 
titled and had a right to, and which was necessaiy for my daily wants, be- 
ing without other funds, except such as we procured from friends, and not 
knowing at the time but that I might be forcibly sent to Toluca, or impris- 
oned bc^fore I coidd effect my escape, or get futids elsewhere. 

After the withdrawal of my parole and the receipt of the order " to pre- 
pare to stait for Toluca the following morning," I repaired to the residence 




of my friend, Mr. Smith, (whose hospitable man?inn T hnd been invited 
to consider as my hotne,) and, whilst at dinner, was snipiised by ihe ap- 
pearance of a Colonel in the Mexican army, who brono;bi a letier to Mrs. 
Smiifi, from her husband, in Puehla, who, with all otlier Air)ericaiis, had 
been ordered out of thecapitol, and also one for me fiom General Worth. 
This Colonel I fonnd to be a daring, bold, and conrageons highwayman 
by profession, and quite wealthy, which gave him considerable considera- 
tion and infli.ieuce, who, besides owning large possessions in oiher parts of 
Mexico, had an extensive establishment in the city, where he employed 
gre it numbers of men and women, and where the fruits of his robberies 
were deposited and disposed of. Afier delivering his letters, he remarked 
that " he had been told by Mr. Smith that he had h lends in Mexico who 
might detire to come to Pueblo; if so, he cunid conduct them." J imme- 
diately seized the opportunity and entered in'o a treaty with him. It be- 
ing Sunday, no passport could be obtained tliat da_v, and notwiihstanding 
I used every inducement, by laige offers of money, to leave immediately, 
without, as I was in constant dread of insiatit arrest, he resisted all my 
importunities, declaring that the aliempt would cost u? buth our lives. I 
therefoie paited with him, with the nndersi.uiding that he was to meet ma 

at 10 o'clock that evening, at the rocm of , near the stage office, cu 

place of retreat provided for me. Pic appeared, according to agreement, 
and Major Borland and Capt. DiUiley were present — a meeting which will 
probably never be forgotten or erased from our tnemories, as it was to settle 
questions of high moment, involving urn- lives or our liberties. At length, he 
contracted, for the sum of S2U0 eacli, to conduct us to Puebla, but only 
one at a lime. It was agreed that he should start with me the following 
evening, (Monday, August 2d,) at 7 o'clock. We then paried, and what a 
separation ? I to ratlke the experiment of passitig through the Mexican 
army, from the city of Mexico to the advanced posts near Puebla, a dis- 
tance of upward of eighty miles, and through thirty odd thousand soldiers, 
scattered along the whole distance. Yet, hazardous and hopeless as it al- 
most appeared, it but nerved me the more, for before me was liberty, and 
the path to honor and glory, whilst behind me was inglorious captivity. I 
retired to bed that night, but so anxiously solicitous for my departure that 

sleep fled, and with early dawn I reinoved to the house of Mr. , 

whose kit)d and hospitable lady furnished lue food and concealment until 
my dep.irture. I had two intimate and confidential friends near Almonte, 
who attended at the stage office to witness the departure for Toluca of 
our officers who had given their parole, and who reported to me all the 
facts coimected therewith, and the remarks of Col. Almonte, in conse- 
quence of my non-attendance at the stage office, "that he v.'ould do me 
the justice to say, I was not on parole, but that he knev,' my whereabouts, 
and he would send me on the following morning," which threat lie at- 
tempted to enforce by repaiiing to tlic house of Mrs. Smith, (where I had 
been living,) with a strong guard, and commenced a search through the 
building in a most ungentlemanly and imofncerlike manner, highly insult- 
ing to the lady, whom he accused of prevaricating, notwithstanding her posi- 
tive assurances of ignorance as to the place of my concealment. And 
here allow me to digress a moment, and pay a passing tribute to (he wo'th 
and excellence of these two most estimable ladies, who have since been 



gciihered to the harvest by death's releniless scythe, hut whose kindness 
and ntteniion to me whilst umJer their hot^pitable roofs, will ever remiuii 
as a fresii and verdant, spring in thai oasis of niy captivity, the lerolieciion 
of which calls np in nty memory feelino^s of the deepest giaiitiule, wfiich 
nouffhi lout death can efface, ajid fo. which and their many other ac s of 
goodness and charity, we are hound to believe tliey have received the 
lewaid promised by Him who spoke as never man spoke, when he declar- 
ed, " Blessed are the merciful, for tiiey shall obtain mercy. Biessed are 
the pure in heart, for they shall see God." 

Colonel Aln.onte haviiig failed in discovering my retreat, gave up the 
search, and I passed the day, through the kindness of friends, in preparing 
for my escape, fivery tiling being prepared, horses and equipments, and 
disguised as a Guerilla, I repaired to the place of rendezvous, and found 
mv^seJf in associatioi] widi a lazy band of robbers, both men and women, 
in ihe emp'oyment of n)y grnide — in whose countenances were depicted 
every vile and treai-herous thouglu ilie himian Aice was capable of express- 
ing — u band cemented by no tie of hmnaniiy, but for robbery and murder 
if {hereby it br(»uglit any gain, and whose accoutrements were in perfect 
kee])ing with their professinn. To my very great regret, the Ooicnel con- 
sidered it too haz irdons to pass out on the main road, although he had 
Santa Anna's passport ft)r iiimself and three others, of whom I was one, 
and he insisted on remaining another day, in order to ascertain if we might 
DOi he able to avoid the l*eiion, a.nd other sirongly guarded places, occupi- 
ed Ity the Mexican tioops, by passir)^: over dykes and thiough swan)ps — lo 
this t most rehictanily yielded, and widi a heavy heart returned to my 
place of concealment. The following evening, i'uesday, Angnsl od, I 
again repaired to the place of meeting, and found all things ready, the main 
road havuig been dolermined at last to be the best, and at 9 o'clock in the 
eveiting 1 took my leave of ilie renowned city of the Aziec's, that city 
famed in historvj wheie I had sojourtred, as a prisoner of war for more than 
five raonMis, a part of that tiu)e in utter disregard otail comity, humanity, 
and righi^ aid usitgcs of war, as well as plighted faith, confined in the 
fiUhv prison of ih;:; tJasiIe Scmiaijo, and the residue of the time on my pa- 
role kn the cily. 1 shall not attempt, to describe my feelings when at the 
gate tl)e sririll hail of the sentinel drew from my conductor the equally 
shrill response '^ M-^xica no RepubUco.^'' After a brief inspection of our 
company, in which my foot was taken hold of, and an inspection of the 
pf»i4spon which corresponded witii our company, all was declared to be 
right, and we passed the gate. A! the celebrated Penon, wb.ere several 
lbo«s9.nd Mexican soldiers were stationed, the same ceremonies were ob- 
served, with the s.nne results, and thus after seven challenges, we foimd 
ourselves, about 3 o'cl:)ck in the morning, the moon having risen, iti the 
immediate vicinity of the villaofe of Coi^ova, the last settlement in the 
valley of Mexico, before reaching the mountains. Here we diverged from 
ike tnain road to pass into the mountains, btit tlje Colonel's horse was, 
Eao:?l unfortunately, taken sick and died. Finding a secure position, I was 
left in charge of one of the men, whilst the Coloisel and the other went (o 
Cwrdova, about a mile dis'ant, to procure another horse — instructing the 
ro&ft left in chaige of me, (as I afterwaids learned,) (oretnain till fie return- 
ed,. At daylight, the most beautiful scene imaginable, and beyond descrip- 



tion, presenied ilsolf (o my view, and \v!>ic!i I Imd ampin lime to enjoy 
whilst w-tiiing for my guide. Wc were on the lop of the liioiint.iiii which 
overlooivs ihe valley of Mexico, below, as ilioiigh under oin- very feet, were 
the henn'il-.il viiliigcs of Cliaico, iVIaiie, Plores. and numerons otiieis wlijch 
c!.;-;ied iIjl^ scene, and Popociitapeil re.uing his Inmry peidc? into the hlne 
ciiieiiai vanli of heaven, seemed to near you ronid almost loneh it, ahhougfi 
not less distant than thiriy miles. After waiting some liioe, !<)y guide 
seemed dieconceried at the Colonel nor returning, and in ul'.ev ignormce of 
the instrnciions given, I could noi accotmtfor his evident uneasinto^ ; after 
wailing, however, until toward nine o'clock, we circled nnrnd the mountain 
and leachfd the main road on (iiis side of Coidova, and parsed on quieily 
uiui! we reached Rio Frio, a vijlugc al^out half way heiween iMexico nnd 
Pei.ibia, I objected to passing throrgh (he village, whicli, from the eleva- 
tion we v/ere on, I di"scovt;red was filled with people, and insisted on climb- 
ing she mountains aiul passing round, which we rlid ; bm jnsi as we entered 
tlie road again we were met by a comprmy of Lmcers, abuut fifty strong, 
whioat once arrested and searched me, but found nothi-ig suspicious about 
my person. The man who was with me, all the time pio^cstrng that 1 w;is 

under the protection of Cclonel , who was well known by the otS- 

cers, bui who appeared to discredit every thing he said, 

Tiie iiotrois of continued captiviiy or insiatii neaih n<)W stated n'e la 
th.e face, and whilst reflecting \\o\\' to act, who should present himself 
but ihe Colonel, at whose anpruacfi the whole cmnpany look off their 
hats, and saluted him. Words are inadequate lo expiess my delight and 
joy at the arri\al of this personage, who after a very few words with ihs 
Captain, directed me to mount my horse, which, with great aliiciity, i 
obeyed. We again sat out, buL after ridinof half a mile halted, when the 
Colonel gave his man a \ery severe castig.ition for disobeying his instruc- 
tions given in the mountains — he havitig l)een told to lemain with me at 
that place until his return. At this I was not a liitle plea.scd, for my lifo 
was near paying tile forfeit, although I ilmughl him a little too severe. I 
was then thrected to dismount and get upon a le.! horse he had with him, 
ao he had (for want of money) given my .horse (which was a very fine one) 
to the Captain to get me released. To this I of couise assented, the horse 
was iheretbre sent back by the man. 'I he Colonel and myself then pro- 
ceeded on alone, and whi'ti we stopped m r. bcuutitVl pine grove lo rest. I 
asked what would have been my fate if 1 had been discovered, lie replied, 
" ihev v.ould have tied your hands lound a tree and shot v>U in tlie back.'* 
Truly 1 felt grateful for having ebcaped such a death. We then pi.rsued 
our way and ariived safely a» the picket guard at Puebia, about 7 oVI'x-k 
P. M., Auiiusi 4ih. Never did my mother lon.mie crreet the ear so harmo- 
niously as'^did the honest hai! of our gmird when lie cried, " Who comes 
there?" I>eing ad.'iiitied I immediately repaired to heiicl-quarrers, and re- 
].ortcd myself to Gen. Scott for duly, who received me -.x i'h great kindness, 
and after liearing my story, appoiu'ed me to the honoriihle position of aid- 
de-ciunp to liiinseif for the march on M xicc;, ihen nix m to take place. 

Aficr my interview with Gen. Scoo, I waited on my old friend Gen. 
W-.-.th, rnnler whom I h;id .se!ved at S:utdlo, who also received me wiih 
greai kindness, and with whou) I was domiciled durimr itiv short suiy in 
Puebla. Alter the events of the expedition, np to ihe 24(h of August, and 



the fifjhting had ceased, and it wns oelieved thnt peace would soon be con- 
cluded. I uddresstid a note lo Gen. Soti, (herevviiii subjoined,) askina: a 
Court of Inqu ry on my conduct, in order that the facis connected with 
my niiliiaiy acts slioidvi be placed in their proper li<?!ii before the ccuniry. 
He annvered my noie verbaiiy, in the presence of Generals Woriii and 
Cadwallaiier, and, I b-Iieve, soine other otiicers, declining to grant my re- 
quest, in terms liiiilily flaiterinii; and coiripiimentary to myself and titose 
vintler mj' conn^iiand, declarina: that not ihe first whisper of censure or 
complaint had ever been unered to his knowledge. A few days afier which 
Gen. Wordi addressed me a note, also annexed, in relation to this inter- 
view widi Gen. Scou. 

The foregciuiij is a Inief and irue account of all that transpired from the pe- 
riod of our arrival in Mexico ( ity lo ihe lime of my arrival in Puebla, as the 
letters hereto appended of 1-icnis. Davidson and l3arbour, Major Borland, 
(and Cai){ain Daidey's pui)lished statement,) confirm, and which, upon o, 
review, br!n£;s wiili it no remorse, but which T should a<jain repeat under 
like circumstances, and which I hnve the saiisfaciion of knowing met the 
approbation of Generals Scoti and Worth, fs the subjoined correspondence 
with the linterevini.es. 

Respectfullv, your friend and fellow-citizen, 

JOHN P. GAIXES. 



"Washington, February 29, 1848. 

Dear Sir: In a published correspondence between a comniiilee on the 
part of the peo|)!e of E'^till, and yourself, you say yinj can most clieer- 
fully bear lesiiniony lo the chivalric beaiino' of all ihe offii:ers and men 
(one excepted) who were so unfortuuaie as to be overpowered by numbers, 
and made prisoners wiih yourself. 1 feel very sure ibat 1 arn not the ofticer 
excepted l-y yon, and ask ihe favor of you so to slate. It will leiievc me 
from ihe pain of noi a -iaw annoying inquiries. 

I have also l)een informed, upon the auf hoi ity of a lelier from P^rankfort, 
that in a speech nuide by yon, a few days ago, in the Whig Convention, 
you saitl, that yon miohi easily have escaped from ?vlexican thrahiom, but 
that you could not h;i\e d^aie so without dishonor. The letter adds, that 
this Wiis undL-rsiood as an atiack upor. me, and I think wiih some reason, 
inasmuch as yoitr position and 'nine being precisely similai at the Palace 
in the City of Mexico, on t!u memorable morning of the 1st of August 
last, it is not percc^ived how I could have lioiinrabUj escaped and you not. 
If is due to candor JO say, iljat 1 do not believe you medilated QlX^ assault 
upon mc, yet as it seems to have been so luiderstood by others, with all 
due respect, 1 ask of yon ihe favor toset the maUer right. 
Very respeci fully, your obedient servant, 

JNO. P. GAIXES. 

Captain C. M. Clay. 



Nev.^ York Citv, March 12, 1848. 
Dear Sir: Your letter of February 2liih, has been received. In res- 
ponse, you do me the justice to say that m the correspondence and remarks 




alluded to, I have no inlention to censure yen. In my corresponclence 
wiih ihe coniuiiitee of t>iill coinjty, I iia'l no allusion fo youiself. In 
my published speech at Richmond, yon will see that 1 expressltj cotnpli- 
moiled you. In my speech in caucus at Frankfort, when I spoke of yoiiy 
I reiterated ihe same sentiments. In my defence of niyseh', I had no iu- 
tentioii of censuring you. I confess that, having occupied similar posi- 
tions, and a divergent course of uciion having ensued, as you say, ihe pra;?e 
of one, is, of necessity, the blanie of the oilier, and this is what I was try- 
ing to av('id. Garrett Davis liad termed the imprisonn5ent '■ dishonorable'^ 
and seemed to cure its eflbcts so far as you were concerned, by the faci of 
escape, I said I had ample opportunities of escape b)'- breaking my parclo 
of honor — that the expedition to Tolucahad been regarded by all as emi- 
nently threatening to the lives of the prisoners, that having once laid down 
•my arms, I intended to abide the viU of my conquerors., even pieferrin'j: u> 
risk ahnost certain death to breach of parole, destruction of ib.e guard, oi 
secret escape. You know shai I, at ail times, during our imprisotiment, 
advocaied similju" sentiments in opposition to some others of ihe prisoners, 
who talked of breaking guard, Porhaps my views of this su'ujectare ulira, 
beyond wliat the laws of nations require. i3ut regarding the spaiing ot" 
life in war, as not demanded by the law of nature, i think t'no generositi/ 
of the ccnqueror should never be abuszd. I trust that this couree of rea- 
soning and defence, and it is such as I used at Frankfort, wil! not be c«in- 
strued into an attack on any one. You are, no doubt, able, at least iii your 
own view, and ilmt of a great majority of mankind, to defend yourself, 
certainly I shall not stand in the altitude of accuser. Before your escape 
you no doubt in good i^xih.^ surrendered your parole^ d.\\\\ believed that you 
were acting hoiiorably in all respects, I appreciate your sentiments oi 
patriotism, at the same time justice compels me to say that I could not 
have availed myself of your means of escape ; because the Mexicans, by 
■not placing a guard over you, confided in your remaining. They after- 
wards complained that you all had violated your word of honor. But, if 
1 could not avail myself of escape of any kind, much less could i avail 
rnyseli' of a doubtful surrender of parole. RclC assured that I have no 
disposition to bring tliese useless discussions before the public. I have, as 
fur as possible, studiously avoided the "taiement of any posiiion v.-hicfi 
woidd v/ound the feelings of any of my fellow prisoners, and sludl oon- 
tiniic to pursue the same policy, I'rustirg that you will rest saiisfieci that 
all that I shall write or say of yon siiall be, as it has been, co'tipliiiiei.t;uy, 
•except so far as a defence of myself shall be implied censure of others, 1 
do not see any necessity of a publication of this letter. If you, however, 
deem it otherwise, 3'ou are at liberty to use it in any manner you choose. 
I remain, as ever, respectfully, your obedient servant, 

Cm. clay. 

Hon. J, P, Gaines. 



Newport Barracks, /1/art'A 27, 1818. 
Dear Major: I have just received your letter and hasten to ivjiiy 
Capt. Clay, Lieut. Churchill, and myself, went to the Pidace in com vmy 
iho IsL day of August, 1S47, having received orders to auend Gen. Loin 



liartlini, for the purpose of receiving money lo pay our expenses to Toluca^ 
ai)'l lo ^ive our parole of honor to repair lo that place. 

AOer turiving- at. Lhe Palace, Capt. Clay, Ijieui. Churchill, and myself 
expTLseec! oiu- willingness lo give our parole. Just as we were leaving iJio 
room, M;ij()r Boiland, Capt. Danley, and yourself anived. 1 distinct!}'- heard 
you lell Gen. Lornbardini, (through his interpreter, Col. Almonte,) upon 
two occasions, that you would not go to Toluca on parole. Major Bor- 
land and Capt. Danley saying at the same time, that they would not go. 
("apt. Clay was present durins' the whole interview. You afterwards, in 
the apaiimenis of (he Minister of War, told Col. Almonte to tell Gen. 
Lombardini that your parole wris at cm end. I know that Capt. Clay was 
preeen', from the tact that he interpreted for you some unintelligible ex- 
piessiofKs of the Colonel, in Spanish, as he left the apariment, saying you 
were very hard-headed, orsomeiliing to that amount. I never heard from 
that time until my arrival in Kentucky, that the slightest doubt existed as 
to your having acied in the n)Ov^t honorable manner. I am certain that 
Capt. Clay never mentioned, or intimated, a doubt of your having so acteu^ 
ei her while a prisoner, or after we were released, and remained in Mexico. 

Whatever may be the opinion of Capt. Clay, you may restassurred that 
yoiu' whole conduct while a prisoner, is approved of most heartily by the 
balance of yoin- fellow prisor.eis. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

GEORGE DAVIDSON. 

To the Hon. J. P. Gaines, Washington cUij. 



Westport, Oldham County, Ky., J2pril l.y/, 184S. 

Dear Major: Your favor of the I8di ultiivjo I liave given a careful 
perusal and hasten to reply. And althoiigh it will always afford me plea- 
siire 10 seive you, still I regret the necessity for this. 

I know that it is very difhuilt to remember correctly the particulars of 
events which have taken place several months previous to the narrative of 
them. As to what occurred on the first day of August, 1847, Vv'hen the 
American prisoners of war, then in the city of Mexico on th.eir parole, 
were sunmoned to the National Palace by order of (he Mexican Goveru- 
nient, I presume few of us will ever forget. I will now state my recollec- 
lion of (he facts, about which I hope there may be no discrepancy amongst 
us. In doing so, [ will confine mytelf to what actually occurred in my 
pj-esenoe, of which 1 have a personal knowledge. 

Early (sn that day Col. Almonte called at my lodgings, before I was up,, 
and delivered me the order of his Government, to present myself at tlie 
N-itir>nal Palace by the hour of II A. M. He rftn)arked that he had seen 
jd! \]\'^ cfiHceis, except Mr. R. C. Rogers, of the Navy, and enquired where 
he was to be found. I replied that I had not seen him for several days, 
(Mr. Rnyers hnd then made liis escape to Pnebln.) At (he hour appointed 
I pro«-e!-ded to tijn Palace in company with a Mr. Benfield, an English re- 
sident inert-, who kindly off^rc^d to attend me as l:^ interpreter. Up to thai: 
Ihtui I lia.l U'-t met with any of nsy fellow ))nsoners. Not fiiiding any of 
you at die Palace, 1 returned again without presenting myself. By the- 



direction of one of their Government officers, an hour or two after, I met 

willi you, IvLijo! liorlniul, and (yupinin Dan'i'y. You had a iVlr. wi.h 

you, for inierpreter. We pioceeJe'l to the Pahice toirethcr, and when in 
the Grand Pinza, near the eiitrau -i^ to the Pahice, we met (.'apiain C. M. 
Clay, Lieutenanis Dtivitlson and CMiurchil!, who hail been lo ihe Pahice 
and were reinrning. 'I'he / reiuinod iviih us, s.iid they had received or- 
ders to start for 'J\>hica the next morning. Several thousand troops were 
then stationed in and about the Paiace, and hundreds of Mexican ofiicers 
in full dress were in atlendiuice. On pas-^ing the piincipd entrance we 
were met by Coi. Ahnonie, wlic conducted us to the Department of the 
Getieral-in-chief, Lombardini, who received us standing. Perutission hav- 
ing previously been given to admit an interpreter with ns. Geu. Ij )inl)ar- 
dini then informed us that it was ihe order of his Governiueni thai we 
should be removed from ilie city of Mexico to Toluoa, and that we wonlJ 
hold ourselves in leadiness to obey tiie order, at o o'chick the next nioni- 
ing, and that the diligence would Cidl for ns at that lioin-. You men said, 
through tiio infcrpreiur. that you wish-;d to call the attention of the Mexi- 
can Governtnent to the con-^iJeration of the fict ihfit all oi the prisoners 
had been agreed, bo'li by Gen. Taylor and Santa Anna, to be exchanged 
for at the battle of Buei^.a Yista, and that you jiad proof of the fact, as 
evidenced by the official reports of both Gen. Taylor and Santa Atnia, 
wiiich you produced. one in l-Jnglishand (heodier in Spanish. In geiiitig 
out the two papers you will reintniber that farcical scene, wherein y<)ij 
ware guilty of a breach of eti(i'ielte in the presence of the General ir) clnef, 
by placing your isat on yom- head, which he resemed by uoing ihe same 
in no gentle tnanner. Gen riOmbardini told you that ihe arrangenieui to 
exchange was in/onnal, and moreover that Gen. Taylor had, in bad faiih, 
failed and refused (o cxecir.e his part of the compact. Yon then told ilie 
interpreter to say that yon did not intend lo go to Toluci, that you had 
given your parole to remain in the capital, and that it was then surrender- 
ed. I ihink the words were, '-at an end." This closed our interview widi 
the General-in cliief, except (hat yon. tneniioned, when speaking of giving- 
up your parole, that you spoke oirly in behalf of yourself, '^riiai ihuugh 
you were the senior officer, 3'oit did tiot attempt, or wish loconnol the con- 
duct of tlia rest of die prisoners. You theii asked an audience wiih the 
President, Santa Anna, and we were directed to the Minister of War. Af- 
ter we had been in ihe latter Department someiime, ihat ftlioisier, v.idi se- 
veral other functionaries, came in, and the stibject of our p:»roies aga.n re- 
sumed. 1 recollect distinctiy th;it you again, iti the most explicit inauner, 
gave forniul notice liiat you did no', consider y^uiself any lunger a pri.-oner 
on ptuole, that you wiihdiew it, and that if you were taken to Tulnca it 
would re(]uire a force to eflVci. if. At this, Col. Almome lost his t<.Miipei 
and said ratlier shtuply, sir, you are now in tlie power of the Mexicans, 
and ihey will send a^ou vvlitne tlipy please without consuhing your wisiits. 
To this you made some an<rry if ply. 1 do not recollec tht; ex.ic! words. 
An oflirer, who v.'as a colonel, ihcn came in with a list nf ii«, a p;i\ roll- - 
and made the officer pay us for the future, according to our raid;, ^v!l!c!l 
we all receiv«-d, except L-etit. Thi-s. S. Cliurchill, who persisted in idiis- 
in2 their money. We were reciu.red "by this officer to suli.-criiie our nant-.-^, 
stating respectively v.'heilier we accepted the parole tendered us. Cajit. 



10 

Clay was tiie first to accept, and so wrote his name. Lieut. Davidron and 
niyselK alter cotisuliing, did ilie same. Yon then wrote your name, and 
opposite to it, on the margin of the pnper " Not on paroled And I am 
-now of I he opinion, that Maj. Borland nrid Copt. Dm ley did the same. 
All of oi:r oITicers were present, except Capt?. ileady and Smith, ^.'hat 
you did, in the plainest and mo.?t unequivoc;d niatjuer and iang-iiage, with- 
diaw your parole in ihe presence of (Jen. Lomliardirii and the Minister of 
War, on the Isi day of Aug^nst, 1847, in the INaiional Palace, at the city 
of Mexico, there can he no doubt whatever. And ihe ftict must be dis- 
tinctly remembered by all present, and al! I presume were attentive ob- 
servers of events that involved our lives. It was very clear that you gave 
the Mexic!U)s to understand, that you would not go to Toluca willingly, 
ami even intimated (hat you would attempt \our escape. In short, no 
other inference could have been drawn. 

I shall never forget what, my feelings and views were on that tiying oc- 
casion, i and Lieut. * * * had, for some time [srevious to thi-^, m.ed- 
itated escape, and as we could not with honor make the aitempt whilst oiy 
our parole, we had determined on obeyir:g the order sending us to Toluca, 
then withdraw our paroles, and escape from thence. We had been assined 
by foreigneis in the capitol, that it was easier to get to Puebia from ToUi- 
c;i, than from llie city. I felt (hat theie was very little chance for you to 
eflect yojir purpose of escape, for, after (he bold course you Iiad taken, it 
was a matter of the greatest suiprise (hat you \tere not at once arrested and 
confined in close prison a^rain. But fortune favored you, and you v/ere 
permiited to leave tiie Palace without arrest. 1 only saw you twice after 
this. Firs!, in the evening when ^^ou had rec-^ived a letter from Gen. 
Worth, and you were making arrangements to ?iai ; and once the next 
morning just before we staited. 

This is suhsiatuially what I remember a'' having taken place in connec- 
tion with your withdrawal of your pa/nle: aiid, tlsouirn 1 do not know 
precisely your objej^t in asking for this statement, vet I hope it may accord 
will) your own recollection of lUe facts. And truth is due to all, particii- 
iiu-iy to a soldier, on a point of honor. 

Your friend and oljediuut servant, 

WM. J. BARBOUR. 

Maj. Jxo P. GAINES. 



Washington: City, Jwli/ 13, 1S48. 
Dear Sir : I have read the letieis of Lieut. l)-uidson, of March 27, 
and Lieut. Barhoor, of April I, addressed to 3'ou in relation to your parole, 
the violation of which by you in the city of Mexico, has been alleged by 
Gas.siu3 M. Ciay. Substantially, as fiir as they g>, these letters coincide, 
accurately, with my recollection of the occurrences they describe. After 
this lapse of iiire, (within a few days of twelve months,) it is almost im- 
possible to recollect every circumstance of a somewhat conjplicated irans- 
aciioti, or the precise hmguag'^ used in any conversation. Fiom one state- 
nicm,only, in Lieut. Baibour's letter, do I dir,serit. It is wherein he says 
you |ui. your name to the paper, and wiote opposite " not oa parole." 1 



11 

iiave no recollection of your doing so. Indeed, I am sure, as well from 
the circumstances as from a knowledge of our purpo=e at the time, that 
neither you, Capt. Danley, nor myself, could have done so. 

I hope you will not deem it necessary to make any reply to the state- 
ments of C. M. Clay, If, however, your better judgment yiduces you to 
differ with me in this respect^ you can make any use you please of this 
couj5rmaiioa of the statements of Lieuts. Davidson and Barbour, already 
alluded to. 

1 am, very respectfully and truh'', vours, 

SOLON BORLAND. 

Hon. J, P. Gaines. 



PuEBLA, Mexico, Avgust 6, 1847. 

My dear Major : You come to us — thank God — in safety, happily 
and honorably escaped from prolonged thraldom, imposed in violation of 
national faith and the laws and usages of war, and just in time to share in 
the hazards, and I hope the honors, of the campaign. 

You are unarmded — accept a sword which has been in battle, and a pair 
of pistols — each of which you well know how to use — from yrur friend, 

W. J. WORTH. 

Major Gaines, Kentucky Volunteers^ i^'c. c^'c. 



Puebla, Mexico, August 7, IS47. 

My dear General: Your note, accompanied with the gift of a sword 
and pair of pistols, was received this morning. I cannot sutiicienily ex- 
press to you how much I value this evidence of your regard, and your kind 
allusion to my captivity is no less appreciated. 

Ti»e fact that these weapons have already been used in battle, imparts to 
them additional interest, and will incite to such a performance of my duly, 
as will prove how sincerely I estimate the donor, and the associaiions at- 
tached to them. Accept then, my dear General, my thanks for this addi- 
tional proof of your friendship, and the kindest wishes of 
Your devoted friend, 

JNO. P. GAINES. 

To Major Gen. Worth. 



Tacubaya, Mexico, August 24, 1S47. 
Dear General : Every thing indicates that this war is closed by your 
last glorious victory, that there is no probability of lluiher contest of arms. 
Such being the case, circumstances demand my presence at home as early 



12 

as practicable ; but, before leaving, it is clue to my character, and to those I 
commanJed, that I shoidd have the benefit of a Court of Inquiry, which 
I most earnestly and respaclfully soUcit at yourliands. 

1 have the honor, to be, with high respect, your obedient servant, 

^ JNO. P. GAINES, 
Major Kentucky Cavalry^ 
To Major Gen. Scott, Commanding -in- chief. 



Tacubaya, August 29, 184?. 

My Dear Major : As you iuive been advised, the General-in-Chief 
has declined givin,<T you and Borland a Court of Inquiry on grounds n.iost 
complimentary to both of you. The ordering a Court might be construed 
elsewhere into a doubt as to your conduct, gallantry, and patriotism, when 
no such sentiment is entertained here. The dc^cision of titc General in- 
Chief has been dictated by the highest ienso of delicacy and respect for 
yourself and comrades. 

Very t'ulv yours, 

\V. J. WORTH. 

Major Gaines, ^'c, 4*^., ^c. 



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